DECCA U.K.'S A&R TEAM GROWS

Decca Records in the U.K. has expanded its team with the promotion of Tom Lewis (pictured) to Vice President, A&R and Artist Strategy. In addition, Rachel Holmberg has joined from BBC as Head of A&R and Sam Mumford, formerly of Imagem, is now A&R Manager.

The new hires arrive after Decca’s recent success with Andrea Bocelli, Michael Ball & Alfie Boe and Royal Wedding cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason.

Lewis has worked at Universal for 15 years, first joining Universal Classics & Jazz as Label Manager for the jazz division after working at EMI. He was later promoted to Head of Consumer Marketing before moving into A&R as Head of A&R and then Senior Director of A&R and Artist Strategy. Acts he’s worked with include Jamie Cullum, Diana Krall, Madeleine Peyroux, Imelda May and Gareth Malone & his Military Wives Choir. When UCJ and Decca merged in 2009, Lewis established an A&R team that oversaw the signings of The Lumineers, Aurora, The Shires, Jeff Goldblum, Seal and the million-selling Michael Ball & Alfie Boe.

In his new role, he will continue to report to Rebecca Allen, President of Decca Records, who said: “As Decca continues to evolve and grow into a leading global music company, so must our approach to A&R, to our artists, and to our unrivalled passion for seeking out and breaking new artists. With this in mind, I am thrilled that Tom’s role will further expand into the heart of the label, and with his uniqueness as a music executive, as a music lover and as a music producer, there is no doubt in my mind, that his passion, energy and drive, will help define many more moments in Decca’s illustrious history.”

Holmberg was previously Editor for the BBC’s new music initiative Introducing and sits on the Music Advisory Board at the Roundhouse venue in London. Mumford was most recently A&R Manager for Imagem, where he signed artists and writers including Temples, Circa Waves, Oh Wonder and Owen Cutts (Stormzy). He was also instrumental in securing established writers such as Cathy Dennis and worked closely with Mark Ronson, Nick Mulvey, Fiona Bevan and Dee Adam.